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Visa transfer to a new passport assistance is for foreign nationals whose passport has expired or been lost or stolen while they have a Nepal visa record to address. The Department of Immigration (DoI) lists visa transfer for lost, stolen, or expired passports and publishes separate document requirements for each case. A new passport alone does not guarantee that an existing visa will be transferred or that a person may travel; the DoI decides the request.
When this service may apply
The DoI’s citizen charter describes a visa transfer service for a lost or stolen passport and for an expired passport. If your passport was damaged, remains valid, or was replaced for another reason, the official pages consulted do not confirm whether that situation follows the same route. Check directly with the DoI before relying on the transfer process or making travel plans.
This service concerns associating an existing Nepal visa with a replacement travel document. It is not a visa extension, a change of visa category, a new visa application, or a determination of immigration status. If the visa itself has expired, the passport is unavailable, or your record has a discrepancy, ask the DoI which application or corrective process applies.
Documents listed by the Department of Immigration
The DoI citizen charter gives the following requirements. The list depends on why the passport was replaced:
- Expired passport: the old and new passports, copies of both passports, and one photograph.
- Lost or stolen passport: the new passport and its copy, proof of arrival, one photograph, and a police report.
The charter does not specify the photograph format, what forms of evidence qualify as proof of arrival, or whether originals must be submitted or shown at a particular step. Confirm those details directly with the Department before filing. Do not assume that the two checklists are interchangeable: the old passport may not be available in a lost or stolen case, while a police report is specifically listed for that case.
How the transfer request works
NepaliPort lists Visa Transfer as an online service for transferring a visa to another document, including another passport or travel document. The Department’s public services page lists Visa Transfer but does not publish a complete case-specific checklist or confirm that a transfer is available in an individual case. Confirm current instructions directly with the Department.
- Identify the passport situation. Establish whether the old passport expired or was lost or stolen, and locate the current visa number and available passport records.
- Check the current official instructions. Review the Department’s published Visa Transfer service and confirm the receiving office, evidence, originals or copies, photograph specifications, and submission method directly with the Department if anything is unclear.
- Prepare the relevant documents. Organize the documents listed for your situation. For a lost or stolen passport, obtain the police report and the proof of arrival requested by the charter.
- Complete the online request and follow the Department of Immigration’s directions. Enter the application details accurately and follow any further submission or attendance instructions the Department provides.
- Wait for the authority’s decision. Use the new passport for travel only after confirming the transfer has been completed and the DoI’s instructions for carrying or presenting the old passport or visa record.
Fee and processing information
At the time of research, the DoI citizen charter lists a charge equivalent to USD 2 in Nepali currency and a same-day service before 1:00 p.m. These are the charter’s published figures, not a promise that a particular application will be accepted or completed by that time. Fees, office procedures, and processing conditions can change; confirm the current charge and cutoff with the responsible DoI office before submission. Immigration Nepal does not collect government fees.
How Immigration Nepal can assist
Immigration Nepal is an independent immigration assistance and advisory service, not the Government of Nepal or a visa-issuing authority. We can help you identify which of the published passport situations appears relevant, organize the documents against the DoI’s current checklist, and prepare questions about unclear evidence or filing steps. The DoI determines the applicable requirements, reviews the request, and decides whether to transfer the visa.
We cannot guarantee eligibility, approval, processing time, or a travel outcome, and we do not represent that a passport replacement automatically preserves permission to travel. For a passport replacement reason not covered by the published checklist, a missing visa record, or urgent travel, obtain direction from the DoI before relying on a transfer.
Eligibility
- The Department of Immigration lists visa transfer for a visa holder with a lost or stolen passport or an expired passport.
- The applicant should have the Nepal visa number and replacement passport information requested by NepaliPort.
- The official pages consulted do not confirm that damaged, still-valid, or otherwise replaced passports follow the same procedure; confirm directly with the Department of Immigration.
- A transfer request is subject to Department of Immigration review and does not itself guarantee permission to travel.
Requirements
- Review the Department’s current Visa Transfer service information and confirm office-specific instructions directly before applying.
- Follow the Department’s current instructions for providing visa and passport information.
- Confirm photograph specifications, acceptable proof of arrival, original-document handling, and submission steps with the Department of Immigration where not stated online.
- Confirm the current government charge and office processing conditions before filing.
Documents to prepare
- Expired passport: old and new passports, copies of both passports, and one photograph, as listed in the Department of Immigration citizen charter.
- Lost or stolen passport: new passport and its copy, proof of arrival, one photograph, and a police report, as listed in the Department of Immigration citizen charter.
- Visa and passport details, if available, for discussing the request with the Department; the cited public pages do not state a universal intake form.
- The Department of Immigration does not specify on the cited pages the photograph format or acceptable proof-of-arrival documents; confirm these details before submission.
Process
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1
Review the passport situation
Identify whether the former passport expired or was lost or stolen. Ask the Department of Immigration which route applies to damaged or otherwise replaced passports.
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2
Confirm the official checklist
Review the Department’s published Visa Transfer information and verify case-specific details, including proof of arrival, photo format, and original-document handling, directly with the Department.
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3
Prepare the correct documents
Organize the documents listed for your situation. For a lost or stolen passport, ask the Department what it accepts as proof of arrival and follow its current instructions.
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4
Follow the Department’s instructions
Provide information through the channel and in the manner specified by the Department, then follow any further submission or attendance instructions it provides.
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5
Confirm completion before travel
Follow the Department of Immigration’s decision and instructions for the new passport and any retained visa or passport records.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer my Nepal visa from an expired passport to a new one?
The Department of Immigration citizen charter lists a transfer for an expired passport. It calls for the old and new passports, copies of both, and one photograph. Confirm the current filing instructions with the responsible office; approval is not automatic.
What if my passport was lost or stolen in Nepal?
The citizen charter lists the new passport and its copy, proof of arrival, one photograph, and a police report for a lost or stolen passport. It does not define the acceptable proof-of-arrival format on the cited page, so confirm what the DoI will accept.
Can Immigration Nepal transfer my visa for me?
No. Immigration Nepal is an independent assistance and advisory service. The Department of Immigration processes and decides visa transfer requests. We can help organize the documents and clarify the steps, but we cannot issue or transfer a visa.
How much does a Nepal visa transfer cost and how long does it take?
The Department of Immigration citizen charter currently lists a charge equivalent to USD 2 in Nepali currency and same-day service before 1:00 p.m. Treat these as published information, not a guarantee; confirm the current fee and processing conditions with the responsible office before filing.
Can I travel while my visa transfer is pending?
Do not assume that a pending request or a new passport is sufficient for travel. Ask the Department of Immigration what documents and status you need, and wait for its instructions about the transfer before relying on the visa for travel.
Does the same checklist apply if my passport is damaged or still valid?
The official pages consulted list expired and lost or stolen passport cases, but do not clearly confirm how damaged or still-valid passports are handled. Contact the Department of Immigration to confirm the applicable process before preparing a request.
General information only. Requirements depend on the facts of each case and can change, so confirm the current position before filing.